Background

The maintenance dredging contract from the settling lagoons forms a crucial role in the limestone production process at Buxton Quarry, Derbyshire. The material is dredged from a series of large lagoons and transported to an adjacent area for drying out.

Scope of Works

WM Plant Hire have an ongoing contract to excavate silt from the lagoons to be transported to drying area. An estimated 4,000 m3 of silt is dredged per week from strategic areas of the pools as additional silt is pumped in from the manufacturing plant.

Solution

A long reach excavator with 24m outreach and 16m dig depth is used to excavate the silt from the perimeter of the lagoons. Underlying material is removed which makes way for new material entering the pool. Access roads have been constructed for the loading of lorries and effective transport of material to the drying areas. To ensure that the rate of excavation allows sufficient capacity in the lagoon, regular communication is made with the Quarry manager.